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Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Pentax Optio VS20 front
 
Samsung SL30 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 Key Specs

Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Samsung SL30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 140g - 94 x 61 x 23mm
  • Released February 2009
  • Additionally Known as ES15
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Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Pentax VS20 and Samsung SL30, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Samsung. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the VS20 (16MP) and SL30 (10MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VS20 was launched 2 years later than the SL30 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the VS20 grades vs the SL30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Samsung SL30

 VS20 SL30 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2009More recent by 36 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung SL30 over the Pentax VS20

 SL30 VS20 

Common features in the Pentax VS20 and Samsung SL30

 VS20 SL30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax VS20 comes with exterior dimensions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Samsung SL30 has proportions of 94mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Pentax VS20 and Samsung SL30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the VS20 versus the SL30.

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the VS20 and SL30 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 top view buttons comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through specifications. The graphic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the VS20 and SL30.

Plainly, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should count on the Pentax VS20 to resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent VS20 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 sensor size comparison

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax VS20 Portrait photography details
Samsung SL30 Portrait photography details
36
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
25
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax VS20 Street photography factors
Samsung SL30 Street photography factors
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax VS20
Sports photography with Samsung SL30
44
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax VS20 Travel photography information
Samsung SL30 Travel photography information
68
lighter than average (235g)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax VS20
Landscape photography with Samsung SL30
47
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
22
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5")
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax VS20 Vlogging factors
Samsung SL30 Vlogging factors
30
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
25
has face detection focusing
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
Photography Glossary

Pentax VS20 vs Samsung SL30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax VS20 and Samsung SL30
 Pentax Optio VS20Samsung SL30
General Information
Company Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax Optio VS20 Samsung SL30
Alternative name - ES15
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-25 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 38-114mm (3.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-4.8 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 2.80 m 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft Auto, On, Off, Auto & Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash, Flash Off, Red-Eye Fix
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 235 grams (0.52 pounds) 140 grams (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") 94 x 61 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model D-LI122 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $106 $93